Netflix's 'sinister' new crime series that's like Handmaid's Tale leaves fans 'rattled'

A gripping new series has shot to number six in the UK's top 10 TV shows, sending shockwaves through the crime thriller community.

Baby Farm, a Nigeria-set crime drama, premiered globally to rave reviews, with fans hooked on its dark and twisted plot. The show revolves around The Evans Foundation, a seemingly benevolent organisation run by expat Dr Oliver Evans (Langley Kirkwood) and his wife Sister Barb (Jenny Stead).

However, beneath its charitable façade lies a "sinister operation that exploits women for profit". The story follows Adanna (Onyinye Odokoro), a pregnant woman rescued from the streets by The Evans Foundation, only to discover a horrific truth.

As the synopsis reveals: "Adanna, a pregnant woman, unsuspectingly entrusts her twin babies to a renowned NGO, only to find herself trapped in a sinister baby farm operation."

Critics have drawn comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale, with Black Film Wire praising Baby Farm as a "five-episode Nigerian crime thriller that doesn't just rattle your nerves, it leaves them in a puddle on the floor".

The review continues: "The series draws chilling parallels to real-life horrors, grounded by a powerful performance from Onyinye Odokoro as Adanna, a woman pushed to the edge, yet never backing down."

"But it’s Genoveva Umeh that left me cold. Her portrayal of Ebun isn’t just haunting—it’s the kind of performance that burrows under your skin and refuses to leave: layered, grounded, and absolutely haunting."

The review site WhatKeptMeUp.com heaped praise on the series, declaring it "might just be the best thing to come out of the EbonyLife-Netflix deal".

Rinzyreviews weighed in: "The show also explores the ugly divide between the rich and powerful, who make inhumane demands, and the poor, who are forced to comply."

They further dissected the show's themes, stating: "It's a grim reflection of the world we live in. And then, there's the issue of justice...It's frustratingly realistic."

In conversation with Deadline, Abudu shared her vision for the series: "This series is more than just a thriller.

"It's a powerful story rooted in real-life issues told through the lense of bold, cinematic African storytelling."

Baby Farm is streaming on Netflix